Transient Analysis of Cold Winds on Exposed Skin: Reflections on the Assessment of Wind Chill Equivalent Temperatures

A transient analysis of the human–environment thermal interaction in cold and windy environments is presented. The site selected to represent this interaction is the head–face, which is depicted as a hollow cylinder wherein heat is conducted in the radial direction. Environmental radiation effects,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied meteorology (1988) 2008-03, Vol.47 (3), p.917-924
Main Author: Shitzer, Avraham
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assessments
Biological and medical sciences
Cellulose acetate
Chills
Climatology
Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change
Cold
Convection
Cooling
Cylinder heads
Cylinders
Earth, ocean, space
Environmental conditions
Equivalence
Exact sciences and technology
Experiments
External geophysics
Face
Frostbite
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heat transfer
Heat transfer coefficients
Human subjects
Integral transforms
Mathematical models
Mechanical engineering
Meteorological services
Meteorology
Parameter modification
Radiation
Radiation effects
Research methodology
Sensitivity analysis
Skin
Skin temperature
Steady state
Surface temperature
Temperature
Temporal variations
Thermoregulation. Hibernation. Estivation. Ecophysiology and environmental effects
Transient analysis
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Weather
Wind
Wind chill
Wind effects
Wind speed
Wind tunnels
Wind velocity
Winds
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Description
Summary:A transient analysis of the human–environment thermal interaction in cold and windy environments is presented. The site selected to represent this interaction is the head–face, which is depicted as a hollow cylinder wherein heat is conducted in the radial direction. Environmental radiation effects, which are small relative to the wind-driven convection effects, as well as metabolic heat and blood perfusion effects, are not accounted for at this stage. The model is solved analytically by an integral transform. Results are used to calculate the wind chill equivalent temperatures (WCETs) for different environmental temperatures and wind speeds. The temporal variations of the calculated WCETs are contrasted against the steady-state values that are published by the weather services in North America. The inherently transient nature of this parameter is clearly demonstrated. This observation should form a basis for modifying the heretofore employed steady-state calculation method of this useful weather predictor.
ISSN:1558-8424
0894-8763
1558-8432
1520-0450
DOI:10.1175/2007JAMC1620.1